- Enrollment
- 466
- Students per teacher
- 13.3:1
- Resource Index
- 26/100
Elementary school (grades K-5) · Carbondale, IL
Thomas Elementary School
Federal NCES profile for Thomas Elementary School, including enrollment, faculty, free-lunch eligibility, demographics, and resource indicators - Resource Investment Index 37/100.
2024-25 NCES dataElementary school (grades K-5)NCES 170834000448
👥 S:T ratio 38
🌟 Gifted program 70
📋 Attendance 4
Scored 0–100 from federal NCES and CRDC indicators, resource allocation, not test scores. Full methodology →
The verdict
Thomas Elementary School earns 37/100 on the Resource Investment Index, with class sizes larger than 74% of Illinois schools. It is also more racially and ethnically mixed than most Illinois schools.
- #4 of 7
- public schools in Carbondale · Resource Index
- 37
- Resource Index · Typical
- 15.4:1
- large classes for Illinois
- 400
- students enrolled
Thomas Elementary School has class sizes larger than 74% of Illinois schools. Computed live against every Illinois school reporting to NCES.
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Carbondale, IL.
School address
District: Carbondale Esd 95 · Illinois
NCES ID 170834000448 Verify on NCES CCD record →
CCD year-over-year · 2022-23 → 2023-24
+61 students YoY
Thomas Elementary School grew from 305 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (+20.0%).
Teacher FTE added 26.7 → 27.0 across the same CCD years.
Source: NCES Common Core of Data public-school universe (2022-23, 2023-24).
Growing CCD campus
+61 students YoY 170834000448 · Carbondale, IL Elementary · SMALL · TRAD
400 enr · 15.4:1 · RII 37
Nearest enrollment peer: Parrish Elem School (466 students)
Thomas Elementary School grew from 305 students in 2022-23 to 366 in 2023-24 (+20.0%). Teacher FTE added 26.7 → 27.0 across the same CCD years. Read with this school → · District book → · Illinois schools → · Find another →
Thomas Elementary School in the enrollment neighbourhood
Fall enrollment among this campus and nearest district peers
- Parrish Elem S
Parrish Elem School
466 students
- Carbondale Mid
Carbondale Middle School
457 students
- This school
Thomas Elementary School
400 students
- Lewis School
Lewis School
325 students
What this shows Thomas Elementary School reports 400 students on the CCD universe file.
How Thomas Elementary School compares
Thomas Elementary School is a growing campus on CCD: ratios and free-lunch share vs Illinois and U.S. means.
| Metric | This school | vs Illinois | Illinois avg | U.S. avg |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Students per teacher | 15.4:1 | ▲ 10% | 14:1 | 15.7:1 |
| Enrollment | 400 | top 45% | - | - |
Source: NCES Common Core of Data School-level CCD + state/national means from Public School Universe · 2024-25
15.4:1
Leaner classes than 43% of US schools, a middle-of-the-pack class size.
400
Bigger than 47% of US schools by enrollment, mid-sized for the country.
Equity indicators methodology
Staffing depth
15.4:1
students per teacher
- 10% above state mean
Top 74% in Illinois - lower ratio than 26% of state schools
Close to the 15:1 benchmark most often cited for individualized attention.
Engagement
38.5%
chronically absent (missed 10%+ of school days)
At or above 20%, the commonly used threshold for "high" chronic absenteeism, signaling significant barriers to regular attendance.
Funding equity
$22,298
per pupil, district-wide
- above Illinois avg of $18,196
Well above the U.S. public-school average, reflecting substantially higher local or state investment per enrolled student.
Support staff
Counselors0.0 FTE
Student-support staffing from the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Discipline context
5
in-school suspensions + 21 out-of-school
Suspension rate: 1.3 per 100 students. Combined in-school and out-of-school rate: 6.5 per 100 students. Reported via the Civil Rights Data Collection.
Student demographics
African American 51.1%
White 25.3%
Hispanic or Latino 11.8%
Two or More 10.0%
Asian 1.5%
Native Hawaiian / Pacific Islander 0.3%
Largest group: African American at 51.1% of enrollment.
Student-body diversity index 65.1/100
Simpson diversity index - at 65.1, Thomas Elementary School is more mixed than the Illinois school average of 38.9.
Programs
Gifted & talented Yes
District finance for Carbondale Esd 95 reports $22,298 per pupil (NCES F-33) - open the district page for the full revenue mix.
How Thomas Elementary School Compares to District-Mates
| School | Enrollment | Economic Profile | Student-Teacher Ratio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Parrish Elem School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Carbondale Middle School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
| Lewis School | Similar size | No free-lunch data | Lower S:T ratio |
Comparisons are relative to Thomas Elementary School's own figures; each column derives from NCES Common Core of Data.
Other Schools in This District
- Enrollment
- 457
- Students per teacher
- 13.1:1
- Resource Index
- 32/100
- Enrollment
- 325
- Students per teacher
- 13:1
- Resource Index
- 39/100
Similar elementary schools in Carbondale
1 comparable elementary schools (grades K-5) serving the same city.
Nationwide elementary schools with similar size or staffing
Out-of-state peers matched by enrollment and by student-teacher ratio, not the same-city or same-district lists above.
Similar enrollment (~400 students)
Frequently asked questions about Thomas Elementary School
How many students attend Thomas Elementary School?
Thomas Elementary School has 400 students enrolled. It is an elementary school in Carbondale, IL. CCD year-over-year: 305 (2022-23) → 366 (2023-24), up 61.
What is the student-teacher ratio at Thomas Elementary School?
The student-teacher ratio at Thomas Elementary School is 15.4:1, which is 10% higher than the Illinois average of 14:1 and 2% lower than the national average of 15.7:1.
What is the racial and ethnic makeup of Thomas Elementary School?
The largest demographic group at Thomas Elementary School is African American at 51.1% of enrollment, in Carbondale, IL. Its student body is more racially and ethnically mixed than most US schools, with a diversity index of 65.1/100.
What is the Resource Investment Index for Thomas Elementary School?
Thomas Elementary School has a Resource Investment Index of 37/100 (typical reported resources relative to schools nationally) based on 3 factors: student-teacher ratio, gifted-program reporting, chronic absenteeism. Not a test-score or academic measure (national median ~41/100, see methodology).
How does Thomas Elementary School rank among public schools in Carbondale?
By Resource Investment Index, Thomas Elementary School ranks #4 of 7 public schools in Carbondale, IL. This compares federal resource and staffing data among local peers; it is not a test-score or academic ranking. See all public schools in Carbondale on the city page.
What other schools are in Carbondale Esd 95?
Besides Thomas Elementary School, Carbondale Esd 95 also operates Parrish Elem School (466 students), Carbondale Middle School (457 students), and Lewis School (325 students). See the Carbondale Esd 95 district page for the complete list.